[Pat Murphy]

Getafe Chief Sees Laudrup Going To Barça

Getafe president Ángel Torres has given the biggest hint yet that Michael Laudrup is set to replace Frank Rijkaard as coach of Barcelona this summer.

Los Azulones' supremo joked that having already supplied Valencia and Real Madrid with coaches in the past few years, there is only Atlético left to go because Barça are set to land their man.

Speculation is rife that Rijkaard will leave Camp Nou this summer and Laudrup is among the favourites to replace him after a very impressive first year in charge of Getafe.

Torres attempted a cryptic response when asked about Laudrup's future, but made it clear that he expects to be looking for yet another new trainer in the summer.

"It is a blow that he could leave us and that we cannot have him here for two seasons. But if that happens then we should be proud and continue to work and find ourselves a coach that next year Atlético can take," he explained.

"Each time we supply a coach to the biggest clubs, Valencia, Real Madrid and Barcelona, so now we just need to give Atlético a coach so that everyone can enjoy themselves."

Quique Sánchez Flores oversaw Getafe's promotion to the top in 2003-04 flight before guiding them to a top ten finish in their first season in the top flight.

After departing to take the reins at Valencia in 2005, Sánchez Flores was replaced at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez by Bernd Schuster, who also enjoyed two successful seasons before being lured away by Real Madrid.

Lucas Brown, Goal.com

Goal.com - Barcelona - Getafe Chief Sees Laudrup Going To Barça